U.S. patent number 7,624,773 [Application Number 11/804,315] was granted by the patent office on 2009-12-01 for standalone ice dispenser.
Invention is credited to Tim Maxwell.
United States Patent |
7,624,773 |
Maxwell |
December 1, 2009 |
Standalone ice dispenser
Abstract
A standalone ice dispenser delivers ice in either bagged form or
bulk form to a user. The device uses a cone-shaped drum with an
upwardly oriented mount that receives and stores the ice which ice
is gravitationally delivered to the drum from an ice maker. When
ice is to be dispensed, a motor rotates the drum such that a fin
within the drum cause ice therein to advance toward and eventually
out of the mouth of the drum into either a bagging system or
directly out of the device via a chute. Weight sensors attached to
the drum determine whether the drum is relatively empty or
relatively full and control operation of the ice maker as a result
and/or a proximity sensor measures the volume of ice in the drum
and controls the operation of the ice maker.
Inventors: |
Maxwell; Tim (Camilla, GA) |
Family
ID: |
40026303 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/804,315 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080283145 A1 |
Nov 20, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
141/114; 222/167;
222/146.6; 141/98; 141/82; 141/317; 141/166 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B
5/067 (20130101); F25C 5/20 (20180101); B65B
39/007 (20130101); B65B 39/12 (20130101); B65B
39/002 (20130101); B65B 1/36 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
1/10 (20060101); B65B 1/30 (20060101); B65B
1/32 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;141/82,98,114,165,166,313-317 ;222/56,146.6,167 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Maust; Timothy L
Assistant Examiner: Arnett; Nicolas A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Loffler; Peter
Claims
I claim:
1. A dispenser comprising: a housing having an interior bounded by
at least one wall and a chute extending from the interior and
through the wall; a drum having an internal cavity and an upwardly
oriented mouth, the drum rotatably disposed within the interior of
the housing; an advancing fin disposed on an inner surface of the
internal cavity of the drum; an ice maker attached to the housing
such that the ice maker is adapted to receive water and turn the
water into ice, the produced ice gravitationally falling from the
ice maker into the mouth of the drum; a bagging unit disposed
between mouth of the drum and the chute, such that the bagging unit
causes the ice falling out of the mouth to be received within a bag
with the bag and ice being delivered into the chute wherein the
bagging unit comprises; a hopper having a first trap door; a bag
rack adapted to receive a plurality of bags; a first air cylinder
having a plurality of suctions cups on a distal end thereof; a
second trap door pivotally attached to the housing and located
below the bag rack; a second air cylinder connected to the second
trap door; and wherein the first air cylinder extends toward the
bag rack such that the suction cups suctionally engage a side of
the bag and thereafter the first air cylinder retracts thereby
opening the bag and such that the ice falling out of the drum falls
into the hopper and once the hopper is full, the first trap door is
opened causing the ice to fall into the open bag below the hopper
and once the bag is full, the second air under causes the second
trap door to pivot causing the bag to slide off of the second trap
door and into the chute; and wherein when the device is activated,
the drum rotates such that the advancing fin causes the ice
disposed within the internal cavity of the drum to advance out of
the mouth and fall into the chute and such that when a sufficient
quantity of ice has been dispensed from the drum, the drum
discontinues rotating.
2. The dispenser as in claim 1 wherein the drum is rotated via a
motor that is operationally connected to the drum.
3. The dispenser as in claim 1 further comprising a proximity
sensor located proximate the mouth of the drum such that the
proximity sensor measures the volume of ice within the drum so that
when the volume of ice within the drum is below a lower limit, the
ice maker is activated and when the volume of ice within the drum
is above an upper limit, the ice maker is deactivated.
4. The dispenser as in claim 1 further comprising a pair of guides,
each rotatably attached to the housing such that the guides guide
the ice falling from the hopper into the open bag.
5. The dispenser as in claim 1 it wherein the first trap door is
controlled by a third air cylinder.
6. The dispenser as in claim 1 further comprising a payment system
that receives a payment prior to dispensing of the ice.
7. A dispenser comprising: a housing having an interior bounded by
at least one wall and a chute extending from the interior and
through the wall; a drum having an internal cavity and an upwardly
oriented mouth rotatably disposed within the interior of the
housing; an advancing fin disposed on an inner surface of the
internal cavity of the drum; a motor that is operationally
connected to the drum; an ice maker attached to the housing such
that the ice maker is adapted to receive water and turn the water
into ice, the produced ice gravitationally falling from the ice
maker into the mouth of the drum; a proximity sensor located
proximate the mouth of the drum; a bagging unit disposed between
mouth of the drum and the chute, such that the bagging unit causes
the ice falling out of the mouth to be received within a bag with
the bag and ice being delivered into the chute wherein the bagging
unit comprises; a hopper having a first trap door; a bag rack
adapted to receive a plurality of bags; a first air cylinder having
a plurality of suctions cups on a distal end thereof; a second trap
door pivotally attached to the housing and located below the bag
rack; a second air cylinder connected to the second trap door; and
wherein the first air cylinder extends toward the bag rack such
that the suction cups suctionally engage a side of the bag and
thereafter the first air cylinder retracts thereby opening the bag
and such that the ice falling out of the drum falls into the hopper
and once the hopper is full, the first trap door is opened causing
the ice to fall into the open bag below the hopper and once the bag
is full, the second air cylinder causes the second trap door to
pivot causing the bag to slide off of the second trap door and into
the chute; and wherein when the device is activated, the drum
rotates such that the advancing fin causes the ice disposed within
the internal cavity of the drum to advance out of the mouth and
fall into the chute and such that when a sufficient quantity of ice
has been dispensed from the drum, the drum discontinues rotating
and such that the proximity sensor measures the volume of ice in
the drum so that when the volume of ice in the drum is below a
lower limit, the ice maker is activated and when the volume of ice
in the drum is above an upper limit the ice maker is
deactivated.
8. The dispenser as in claim 7 further comprising a pair of guides,
each rotatably attached to the housing such that the guides guide
the ice falling from the hopper into the open bag.
9. The dispenser as in claim 7 wherein the first trap door is
controlled by a third air cylinder.
10. The dispenser as in claim 7 further comprising a payment system
that receives a payment prior to dispensing of the ice.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a standalone ice dispenser that
uses a simplified ice advancing mechanism.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Standalone ice dispensers have gained in popularity in recent
times. These devices, which are typically placed in a parking lot
or similar location, automatically sell ice to consumers without
the need for an attendant to be present. The standalone ice
dispenser, which is about the size of a large shed, is placed at
the desired location and is hooked up to a local water supply and
to a source of electricity. Once operational, the ice dispenser
manufactures ice, which ice is sold to consumers by having the
consumer approach the device and place money into an appropriate
receiver, in similar fashion to the operation of a soda machine.
Once the funds are received by the machine, a quantity of ice is
measured out and is dispensed to the consumer, typically in a bag,
however, some machines also dispense in bulk form directly to the
consumer's receptacle.
These standalone ice dispensers are great for consumer and owner
alike. Once the device is properly installed, there is no need for
human involvement in the sales process so that the consumer can buy
ice day or night and the owner has a revenue stream with relatively
little operating expenses.
In order for a standalone ice dispenser to be efficient, the
machine must make a substantial amount of ice, which ice is stored
in an appropriate storage receptacle within the machine's housing.
Advance manufacture of a large amount of ice assures that
sufficient quantizes of ice are available for sale during peak
purchase periods. Once ice is purchased, the ice is brought to the
weighing and dispensing section of the device by an advancing
system. The problem with current standalone ice dispensers is that
the advancing system tends to be relatively complex in design and
construction. This complexity increases the overall manufacturing
cost of the device. Additionally, due to this complexity of the
advancing system, the device is more prone to failure. Increased
failure rates result in increased operating costs due to the need
to have frequent service visits to each device to maintain proper
operation. Additionally, should the device malfunction, the machine
may loose a substantial amount of revenue stream until the problem
is resolved ay the next service visit which may be relatively
distant in the future.
What is needed is a standalone ice dispenser that has a relatively
simple ice storage and advancing system so that the overall
dispenser is relatively less complex in design and thus less
expensive to manufacture. Additionally, by having a simple storage
and advancing system, service visits can be less frequent in order
to reduce the operating expenses of the device and in order to
reduce potential revenue robbing down time of the dispenser.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The standalone ice dispenser of the present invention addresses the
aforementioned needs in the art by providing a standalone ice
dispenser that sells ice at anytime without operator involvement,
which dispenser has a relatively simple ice storage mechanism as
well as a relatively simple ice advancing system between the
storage mechanism and the dispensing mechanism. Simplicity in
design of the storage and advancing systems allows for a less
complex dispenser thereby allowing for a relatively less expensive
machine. By simplifying the storage and advancing systems, the
owner of the device is able to schedule service visits less
frequently, thereby decreasing the overall operating costs and
increasing the up time of the machine.
The standalone ice dispenser of the present invention is comprised
of a housing that has an interior bounded by at least one wall and
a chute extending from the interior and through the wall, the chute
protruding through the wall to the exterior of the housing. A drum
has an internal cavity and an upwardly oriented mouth and is
rotatably disposed within the interior of the housing. An,
advancing fin is disposed on an inner surface of the internal
cavity of the drum. A motor, which may, but not necessarily be
electric, is operationally connected to the drum. An ice maker is
attached to the housing such that the ice maker receives water and
turns the water into ice. Once the ice is made, it is
gravitationally discharged from the ice maker into the mouth of the
drum. At least one weight sensor may be connected to the drum or a
proximity sensor may be positioned proximate the drum or both. When
the device is activated, the drum rotates such that the advancing
fin causes the ice disposed within the internal cavity of the drum
to advance out of the mouth and fall into the chute. When a
sufficient quantity of ice has been dispensed from the drum, the
drum discontinues rotating. The weight sensor measures the weight
of the drum so that when the weight of the drum is below a lower
limit, the ice maker is activated and when the weight of the drum
is above an upper limit, the ice maker is deactivated. If a
proximity sensor is used, the proximity sensor determines the
volume of ice in the drum and when the volume of ice in the drum is
below a lower limit, the ice maker is activated and when the volume
of ice in the drum is above an upper limit, the ice maker is
deactivated. A bagging unit may be disposed between mouth of the
drum and the chute such that the bagging unit causes the ice
falling out of the mouth to be received within a bag with the bag
and ice being delivered into the chute. The bagging unit comprises
a hopper that has a first trap door. A bag rack receives a
plurality of bags and is located below the hopper. A first air
cylinder has a plurality of suctions cups on a distal end thereof.
A second trap door is pivotally attached to the housing and is
located below the bag rack. The first air cylinder extends toward
the bag rack such that the suction cups suctionally engage a side
of the bag and thereafter the first air cylinder retracts thereby
opening the bag. The ice falling out of the drum falls into the
hopper and once the hopper is full, the first trap door opens,
causing the ice to fall into the open bag below the hopper. Once
the bag is full, the second trap door, upon which the bag and ice
sit, pivots causing the bag to slide off of the second trap door
and into the chute. A pair of guides is provided such that each is
rotatably attached to the housing and such that the guides guide
the ice falling from the hopper into the open bag. A second air
cylinder is attached to the second trap door in order effect
rotation of the second trap door. The first trap door is controlled
by a third air cylinder. A payment system receives a payment from a
user prior to dispensing of the ice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the standalone ice dispenser of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view, partially cutaway, of the internal workings
of the standalone ice dispenser.
FIG. 3 is a detail view of the internal workings of the standalone
ice dispenser at the start of a purchase cycle.
FIG. 4 is a detail view of the internal workings of the standalone
ice dispenser during the purchase cycle.
FIG. 5 is a detail view of the internal workings of the standalone
ice dispenser at the end of the purchase cycle.
Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the
several views of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the standalone ice
dispenser of the present invention, generally denoted by reference
numeral 10, is comprised of a housing 12 that has a dispensing
chute 14, the ice I being delivered to the consumer through the
chute 14. A storage window 16 holds twist ties that are used to tie
the bag B that is dispensed through the chute 14. Also located on
the exterior of the housing 12 is a payment center 18 that has a
money acceptor of any appropriate design including a bill acceptor
20 and a coin acceptor 22, a change slot 24, and a selection panel
26 for selecting desired quantities and for allowing other
interactions with the device 10. The standalone ice dispenser 10
may also have a credit card or debit card acceptance system (not
illustrated) that communicates with an appropriate financial
clearing house via a cellular telephone (also not illustrated) for
accepting such payments from a consumer. Of course the dispensing
chute 14 and the payment center 18 can be located on the same side
of the housing 12
Located within the housing 12 is an ice maker 28 of any appropriate
design, an ice storage system 30 which includes an ice advancing
system, and an ice measuring and dispensing system 32. A first
cooling unit 34 sits atop the housing 12 and provides cooling for
the ice maker 28 while a second cooling unit 36 also sits atop the
housing 12 and keeps the inside of the housing 12 at an appropriate
temperature in order to keep the produced ice I in top form during
storage.
As seen, the ice storage system 30 comprises a cone-shaped drum 38
that has an upwardly oriented open mouth 40 and a mount ring 42.
The drum 38 is rotatably mounted on a front post 44 with the mount
ring 42 being received within a drive guide 46 located atop the
front post 44. The drum 38 also sits atop a rear post 48. An
electric motor 50 is located atop a mount 52 proximate the rear
post 48 and is connected to the bottom of the drum 38 via a
universal joint 54, the universal joint 54 being connected to the
motor 50 via a gear box 56. The universal joint 54 passes through a
bearing 58 located atop of the rear post 48. Located at the base of
each post 44 and 48 are weight sensors 60. Located within the drum
38 are one or more advancing fins 62. The ice maker 28 has a
delivery chute 64 that feeds into the open mount 40 of the drum 38.
Alternately, or in addition to the weight sensors 60, a proximity
sensor 66 may be located at the end of the delivery chute 64 for
sensing into the drum 38.
As seen, the ice measuring and dispensing system 32 comprises a
hopper 68 that has one or more sensors 70 located at the top and
another set of sensors 72 located at the bottom. A hopper chute 74
extends between the open mouth 40 of the drum 38 and the open top
of the hopper 68. A trap door 76 is located at the bottom of the
hopper 68 and is controlled by a first trap door air cylinder 78
that opens and closes the trap door 76. A pair of guides 80 is
rotatably attached to the housing 12 below the trap door 76 of the
hopper 68. A pair of downwardly sloping bag racks 82 is attached to
the housing 12 and holds a plurality of bags B thereon and has a
spring-loaded panel 84 pushing the bags B forwardly toward a bag
loading air cylinder 86 that is attached to the housing 12. A grip
panel 88 is attached to the end of the bag loading air cylinder 86
and has a plurality of suction cups 90 located thereon. A delivery
trap door 92 is pivotally attached to the housing 12 and is located
just above the top of the dispensing chute 14. A second trap door
air cylinder 94 is attached to the delivery trap door 92 and to the
housing 12.
In operation, the standalone ice dispenser 10 is placed at a
desired spot and is connected to a source of electrical power and
to a source of potable water in the usual way. Once the device 10
is operational, the ice maker 28 produces ice I and as each batch
of ice I is made, the ice I drops out of the bottom of the ice
maker 28 and is deposited in the drum 38 via the delivery chute 64.
Once the drum 38 has a sufficient amount of ice I stored therein,
as determined by the weight sensors 60 and/or the proximity sensor
66--the precise amount being dependent on the size of the overall
device 10 including the drum 38--the ice maker 28 discontinues
producing ice I. A customer goes to the payment center 18 and
deposits the appropriate amount of money (or inserts a credit card
or debit card if the unit 10 is so configured) and selects either
bagged ice I or bulk ice I. If bulk ice I is selected the ice I is
advanced from the drum 38, described more fully below, directly to
the bulk chute whereat the customer collects the ice I. If bagged
ice I is selected, then the ice measuring and dispensing system 32
positions a bag B by having the bag loading air cylinder 86 extend
toward the bags B positioned on the racks 84. The suction cups 90
on the grip panel 88 grab a side of a bag B via suction force, and
pull this one side of the bag B away from the rack 84 as the bag
loading air cylinder 86 retracts. The bag B is now open and ready
to receive ice I. The motor 50 activates causing the drum 38 to
rotate. As the drum 38 rotates, the advancing fin 62 within the
internal cavity of the drum 38 causes ice I to advance upwardly
toward and eventually out of the open mount 40 of the drum 38. As
the ice I advances out of the drum 38, the ice I falls into the
hopper 68 under guidance of the hopper chute 74. Once the sensors
70 at the top of the hopper 68 detect the presence of ice I, due to
the hopper 68 being full, the motor 50 discontinues operating so
that the drum 38 discontinues rotating so that no further ice I
advances out of the drum 38. Now the first trap door air cylinder
78 is activated and extends outwardly causing the trap door 76 to
open. This allows the ice I to drop out of the bottom of the hopper
68 and fall into the open bag B. The ice I is guided into the bag B
via the guides 80 which also help keep the bag B open during the
filling process. Once the lower sensors 72 of the hopper 68 detect
the absence of ice I, due to the hopper 68 being empty, the first
trap door air cylinder 78 retracts causing the trap door 76 to
close. This also causes the second trap door air cylinder 94 to
close causing the delivery trap door 92 to rotate downwardly,
allowing the bag B with ice I to slide off of the delivery trap
door 92 and down into the dispensing chute 14 whereat the bag B is
retrieved by the customer. Thereafter, the second trap door air
cylinder 94 extends returning the delivery trap door 92 to its
ready position. The device 10 is now ready for a new cycle.
Once the weight sensors 60 at the base of the posts 44 and 48 sense
that the weight of the drum 38 has fallen below a certain level or
the proximity sensor 66 senses that the volume of ice I within the
drum 38 has fallen below a certain level, the ice maker 28 is again
activated in order to restock the drum 38 with ice.
Operation of the various systems is controlled by an appropriate
controller (not illustrated) with the various components connected
to the controller in the usual way.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *